15 May 2012

Mundialito gets quarterfinals defined

Barça-Sporting, Lokomotiv-Boca Juniors, Santos-Flamengo and Corinthians-Vasco da Gama to set the semifinals

Last group stage matchday finally defined the eight teams having their berth into quarterfinals, with Santos, Vasco da Gama, Boca Juniors, FC Barcelona, Flamengo, Sporting Portugal, Corinthians and Lokomotiv Moscow being the survivors.

On quarterfinals, the four Brazilian sides are to fight for two semifinal ptickets, with Corinthians takin on Vasco da Gama and Santos facing Flamengo. On the other side of the chart, FC Barcelona and Sporting will field an Iberian battle, whereas Boca and Lokomotiv will look for the other place.

This is all what happened in this fourth day in the II Mundialito de Clubes Beach Soccer:

Barça secures head of group B from the penalty kick spot

FC Barcelona got into the Quarterfinals of this II Mundialito de Clubes Beach Soccer after knocking Seattle Sounders down at the penalty shootout. Although with the ticket to next round 99% secured, the catalan side did not miss the chance of ending this first stage of the tournament at the highest possible place, and by means of a superb Bukhlitskiy today, which turned into a real nightmare for the North-American not only at the game’s decision from the nine.meters spot, but during the whole game.

The match began in a really intense fashion, but the game was not deep enough to cause goalkeepers many problems. With the time in the first period almost over, Bruno Torres flipped the ball and rocketed it to Seattle’s nets, sweeping Barcelona ahead, and making life more difficult for Seattle, whose only chances of securing quarterfinals berth without depending on any other result were necessarily related to a three-point booty today. As minutes went by, it seemed more and more difficult for Marcelo Mendes lads to have this happening, mainly because ‘Bukha’ denied, once and again, their attempts to the net. But, at the very last minute of the game, Agustin was brought down inside the box, and managed to send the game into extra time shooting the penalty kick in.

Seattle managed then to turn the score around, with Morgan Plata scoring the 1-2 with just one minute and an half to go in the supplementary leg, and that seemed could be their ticket to next round. But Shishin leveled things again for FC Barcelona, sending the game to extra time. From the nine-meters distance, the Catalan sided proved better aimed, as Amarelle’s attempt found Cesar’s net, and Faberhoff only found a new excellent response by Bukhlitskiy, seeing their chances to qualify crumble.

There was only one way through fro Vasco da Gama to secure a place in next round. FC Barcelona’s win over Seattle sounder opened the carioca’s door to go through with a win, as six points out of nine would make them, at least, one of the best third. After a very bad beginning, current champions got back on the road yesterday against Boca Juniors, in a harsh, full of tension game, and they needed to get things finally arranged today.

With that necessity, the ‘Vascaino’ side were to take on Milan in this last league stage matchday. And they began doing it in a fairly successful manner, as Mauricinho swept them ahead by mid first period. AC Milan, though, wanted to play all their options before seeing themselves out of the tournament, and Juninho and Palmacci managed a comeback that was definitely not on Vasco’s script.

Although it was just a one-goal difference, nerves and uncertainty necessarily stiffened the carioca player’s legs up, especially when seeing that the clock was ticking down, almost taking them outside of the competition. With the end of the game perilously close, Bernardo finally found the key for the Gigante da Colina to Spada’s nets again, only to be followed, seconds afterwards, by teammate Jorginho to have things back at their interest again. The rossoneri managed not to counteract these two last blows, and with the final whistle, they saw their options to say on the race vanish.

Corinthians did not miss the train to quarterfinals, either, although they had to suffer until the very last minute in front of an already-qualified Lokomotiv Moscow. After André secured the points for the Timão, both sides have their berth secured in the draw for next round, as banking on six points there is no chance that any other third qualified team gets better figures. The only thing yet to know is who is to take the first place, the second, or the third in group C, always depending on the result between Sporting and Al Ahli.

Juninho swept the Timão ahead in the first period, and got things going for his side, eyeing a sweet evening for the squad. But, although little was at stake for the Russians, their competitive breed would take them to fight every single ball, and every single chance to win the game, and Borsuk fielded that with the equalizer for Lokomotiv.

The clock was heading for the final whistle, with a tie that would leave things fairly uncertain, specially for the Paulista team. With just one minute to go, Juninho, again got the hosts ahead, and apparently, into quarterfinals. But it was just apparently, as some seconds afterwards, Gorchinskiy stole a ball, drove it to a good shooting position, and sent it to the back of Mão’s nets, restoring the balance on the score. Although extra time may seem unavoidable under such circumstances, Beach Soccer fans know that with such terrifically talented players on the sand, it is just a matter of one blink to have things change. In this occasion, it was Brazilian magician Andre the one to get a ball and shot it in for Corinthians ticket to next round.

Just when it seemed that things were really uphill for Boca, with two of their best players punished after red cards yesterday, and playing in front of one of the teams in best shape of the tournament, things just worked out perfectly. Casado’s team got into the best eight after a terribly solid performance against the Paulista squad, thanks to prolific beginning and a steel-made determination to finally get the prize.

There is no such thing as letting go in Beach Soccer. Santos were already qualified, and, despite that, fought as much as they could to counteract Boca’s early advantage. The Argentinean had managed a 0-3 advantage by the beginning of second period, but the Peixe side had not said their last word. Fielding key players such as Bruno, Sidney or Kuman, with no intention of getting them some rest regarding quarterfinals, they sought nothing else than turning the score around, no matter they did not need it…

There were not far to achieving it, though, as Rafinha Carioca and Sidney cut the distance to 2-3. But last hit by Brazilian international came too late, with less than a minute to go, and Boca were too determined to let the points flee. With the final whistle, Boca’s excitement and happiness was easily noticeable, and absolutely understandable: They got themselves into next round when they had everything against them.

A strategically designed ‘hat-trick’ by Madjer got Sporting Portugal into the quarterfinals of the II Mundialito de Clubes Beach Soccer. The Portuguese maestro fielded again his devastating left canon to get his side amongst the best eight, killing any option for Al Ahli. With one stroke in each period, the Lusitanian captain torn down the Asian expectations of going on at the most competitive club Beach Soccer festival.

Sporting’s opener came no later than three minutes after kick-off, and that got things uphill for spirited Al Ahly. Despite they kept trying, the Leões’ experience was always felt on the pitch, and Madjer widened the gap with his second hit today, having the way steeper for Hilal’s lads.

The green and white hero was not done, yet, though, and again by mid third period, he hit Abbas’ nets again. Things had turned almost impossible for the Arab squad, but they would not stop fighting. Datinha was the one to manage a little price for such a combative attitude, but the reward went no further, clarifying things in group C, in which Sporting joins Corinthians and Lokomotiv at the quarterfinals pot.

Clube Regatas do Flamengo were the last side to secure access to the quarterfinals stage of the II Mundialito de Clubes. The Carioca side took on hosts São Paulo acknowledging that the three points meant the passport to next round, at the same time a defeat could mean the paulista side passing that door.

To dispel any doubt, Anderson gave ‘Fla’ an early advantage, although one-goal difference means very little in Beach Soccer. Mena contributed to the carioca team’s ease when taking a ball reversing himself towards the goal, and sending the ball far from Erik’s reach for the 2-0.

Minutes went quickly by for São Paulo after that, and despite Rafinha farewelled the tournament with an amazing trick, chipping the ball over Robertinho in a free kick, that was just the a brilliant closing for his side, as there was no time for more. With Flamengo’s victory the eight quarterfinalists get defined: Santos FC, Vasco da Gama, Boca Juniors, FC Barcelona, Flamengo, Sporting, Corinthians and Lokomotiv.